Test container, test device, and nucleic acid test method

Abstract

A test container includes an inlet, a first storage portion, a second storage portion, a first flow channel that connects the first storage portion to the second storage portion, a first cylinder of which one end is connected to the first storage portion via a second flow channel and the other end is open to an outside, a second cylinder of which one end is connected to the second storage portion via a third flow channel and the other end is open to an outside, a first plug provided in the first cylinder, and a second plug provided in the second cylinder. An internal space including the first storage portion, the second storage portion, the first flow channel, the second flow channel, and the third flow channel is capable of being pressurized in a case where the first plug and the second plug are pressed and moved from the outside.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A test container comprising:
 an inlet into which a specimen solution is to be put;   an attachable and detachable lid part that covers the inlet;   a first storage portion that is provided such that the inlet is an end surface of an opening and that stores a specimen solution added dropwise from the inlet;   a second storage portion that is capable of storing liquid and causes the specimen solution and a reagent to react with each other;   a first flow channel that connects the first storage portion to the second storage portion;   a first cylinder of which one end is connected to the first storage portion via a second flow channel and the other end is open to an outside;   a second cylinder of which one end is connected to the second storage portion via a third flow channel and the other end is open to an outside;   a first plug that is provided to be movable in the first cylinder; and   a second plug that is provided to be movable in the second cylinder,   wherein an internal space including the first storage portion, the second storage portion, the first flow channel, the second flow channel, and the third flow channel is capable of being pressurized in a case where the first plug and the second plug are pressed and moved from the outside.   
     
     
         2 . The test container according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the internal space is hermetically sealed by the first plug and the second plug, and the second plug is moved from the internal space to the outside in the second cylinder while being interlocked with movement of the first plug in a case where the first plug is pressed from the outside and moved toward the internal space in the first cylinder.   
     
     
         3 . The test container according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein an air vent is provided at a part of the second cylinder and the internal space is capable of being pressurized in a case where the second plug is moved closer to the internal space than the air vent.   
     
     
         4 . The test container according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a purification chamber that is provided in a middle of the first flow channel and removes impurities in the specimen solution.   
     
     
         5 . The test container according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the reagent is stored in the second storage portion.   
     
     
         6 . The test container according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a third storage portion that is provided in a middle of the first flow channel and stores the reagent.   
     
     
         7 . The test container according to  claim 6 , further comprising:
 a purification chamber that is provided in a middle of the first flow channel and removes impurities in the specimen solution,   wherein the third storage portion is provided between the purification chamber and the second storage portion in the middle of the first flow channel.   
     
     
         8 . The test container according to  claim 6 , further comprising:
 a stirring flow channel that is provided between the third storage portion and the second storage portion and facilitates mixture of the specimen solution and the reagent.   
     
     
         9 . The test container according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein a bottom surface of the second storage portion is formed of a film.   
     
     
         10 . The test container according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the reagent includes an amplification reagent that amplifies a specific nucleic acid sequence and a probe for determination of a nucleic acid sequence.   
     
     
         11 . A test device comprising:
 the test container according to  claim 1 ; and   a pressing machine including a first pressing unit that presses the first plug positioned in the first cylinder of the test container from the outside and a second pressing unit that presses the second plug positioned in the second cylinder from the outside,   
       wherein in a case where the first plug is pressed and moved toward the internal space by the first pressing unit, the specimen solution stored in the first storage portion of the test container is fed to the second storage portion. 
     
     
         12 . The test device according to  claim 11 , further comprising:
 a first heating unit that is provided at a position allowing the first heating unit to be in contact with a bottom surface of the second storage portion of the test container and heats liquid stored in the second storage portion.   
     
     
         13 . The test device according to  claim 11 , further comprising:
 a second heating unit that is provided at a position allowing the second heating unit to be in contact with a bottom surface of the first storage portion of the test container and heats liquid stored in the first storage portion.   
     
     
         14 . The test device according to  claim 11 , further comprising:
 a detection unit that detects whether or not an object to be detected is included in the specimen solution in the second storage portion.   
     
     
         15 . The test device according to  claim 14 ,
 wherein the reagent in the test container includes an amplification reagent that amplifies a specific nucleic acid sequence and a fluorescent probe for determination of a nucleic acid sequence, and   the detection unit includes an excitation light source that irradiates liquid stored in the second storage portion with excitation light for exciting the fluorescent probe, and a photodetector that detects fluorescence emitted from the fluorescent probe excited by irradiation with the excitation light.   
     
     
         16 . A nucleic acid test method using the test device according to  claim 15 , the method comprising:
 immersing a specimen, which is collected from a living body using a collection tool, in a nucleic acid extraction solution to extract a nucleic acid from the specimen;   putting liquid, which includes the nucleic acid, as the specimen solution from the inlet of the test container;   hermetically sealing the inlet by the lid part;   feeding the specimen solution, which is stored in the first storage portion, to the second storage portion by the pressing machine;   amplifying the specific nucleic acid sequence by controlling a temperature of mixed liquid of the specimen solution and the reagent in the second storage portion;   irradiating the mixed liquid with the excitation light and detecting fluorescence generated from the fluorescent probe using the photodetector; and   determining whether or not the specific nucleic acid sequence is present.